John F. Kennedy: The First Family Photo Album. President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy owned this photo album that contains candid photos of them and their family during their brief stay in the White House. These are not your typical family album photos, but high quality, professional portraits. The red leather album measures 13.5" x 11". The cover is stamped in gold: "The First Family- Album by E. B. Michelman". The endpapers are covered in red, silk moire material. Each photo measures 9" x 13" and is mounted on boards with rounded corners, on each side of a single leaf. There are five leaves, for a total of ten portraits. The photos were taken at Hyannisport by noted photographer Mark Shaw during a family vacation. This attribution was positively established by the Kennedy Presidential Library. We do not know how many albums were produced, but it is safe to assume they were very few in number with limited distribution to family members. This example is in perfect condition.

Mark Shaw (1921-1969) was a noted American fashion and celebrity photographer. He worked for Life Magazine from 1952 to 1968, producing twenty-seven cover photographs during that period. His work also appeared in Mademoiselle, Harper's Bazaar, Esquire, among others. In 1959, while John F. Kennedy was running for president, Life assigned Shaw to photograph Jacqueline Kennedy. A comfortable working relationship led to personal friendship, and Shaw became the Kennedys' de facto "family photographer." He portrayed Jack and Jackie and their children in official and casual settings both at the White House and at Hyannisport. A collection of these photographs was published in Shaw's 1964 book The John F. Kennedys: A Family Album.